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The hydrogen balloon

Collect the gas from a metal and an acid in a balloon — then light it.

Topic: Acids, bases and saltsGrade: 9Free

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What you do

  1. Add magnesium ribbon to the acid: the balloon fills with gas.
  2. Bring a burning splint to the balloon (Tests → Burning splint).

Safety in a real lab

⚠ Never ignite hydrogen in a closed container. Demonstration distance, ear protection.

More experiments on this topic

Neutralisation with an indicatorTurn a pink base colourless by adding acid, and watch the temperature rise.Red-cabbage rainbowA natural indicator shows a different colour at every pH.Strong and weak acidsSame concentration, very different behaviour.Making a salt: copper sulfateBase + acid → salt + water, with copper(II) oxide.pH titration curveAdd acid from a burette and draw the S-shaped curve.Making a salt: copper(II) sulfate crystalsReact an insoluble base with an acid, filter off the excess and crystallise the salt.